Burning US Flag A Felony or Free Speech [VIDEO]

A few protesters in Washington DC thought it would send a powerful message to burn an American flag in front of the White House. Is this a a felony or Freedom of Speech?

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On November 5th, while most Americans were voting in local elections, thousands of people worldwide joined the Million Mask March protest organized by the Anonymous movement. Rallies in 450 cities protested austerity, surveillance, corporate greed and corrupt governments.

The US Code provides that it is illegal to burn the flag, but the United States Supreme Court has held, several times, that burning the flag is a protected form of speech.

If you think about it, it really is speech. Which is why burning the flag is so controversial. When one sees the flag burning, it is not just a piece of cloth, it is a representation of the American country and its values.

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Those who would support a constitutional amendment to protect the flag believe that the symbol is sacrosanct, and that there is never a justification for it.

Those who oppose it believe that, while it is just cloth, the burning of the flag is the strongest possible statement that America’s values (like the flag) have gone up in flames, and that the leaders no longer stand for the values made dear by the country and its framers.

In any event, at least for now, you cannot be arrested for burning the flag (absent some other violation).

Sound off with your thoughts in the comments below or tweet me @JazzyTOnAir

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